:- Honourable Members of the Senate: Members of the House of Commons:

2

THE

S E N A T E 4 GEORGE

VI

PRAYERS.

The Honourable the Speaker informed the Senate t h a t he had received

a

communication from the Secretary to the Governor General stating t h a t

His

Excellency the Governor General would proceed to the Senate Chamber t o open t h e Sixth Session of the Parliament of Canada this day a t three o'clock in the afternoon.

The Senate adjourned during pleasure.

After a while. His Excellency tlie Governor General having come, and being seated on the Throne,-

The Honourable the Speaker commanded the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod to proceed to the House of Commons and acquaint t h a t House that,-

It

is His Excellency the Governor General's pleasure t h a t they attend him immediately in the Senate Chamber.

The House of Commons being come,

His Excellency tlie Governor General was then pleased to open the Sixth Session of the Eighteenth Parliament by a Gracious Speech t o both Houses, as follows :-

Honourable Members of the Senate:

Members of the House of Commons:

During the months which have elapsed since the close of the special session, m y Ministers have given unremitting attention to the organization and prosecu- tion of Canada's war effort. The Government has been in constant consultation with the Government of the United Kingdom, and the measures adopted have been those which it is believed will best serve the common cause.

Vigorous action has been taken through all branches of the armed forces t o provide for the security and defence of Canada, and for co-operation with the Allied forces on land, on sea and in the air.

For the effective prosecution of the war, Canada's industrial, financial and other resources are being steadily mobilized and all war activities co-ordinated.

T h e production and marketing of agricultural and other primary products have been given constructive direction; and safeguards have been provided against undue enhancement, under war conditions, of the prices of food, fuel and other necessaries of life.

Since last you met the developments of the war have made increasingly clear the nature of the struggle in which we are engaged. The very existence of nations t h a t cherish independence and democratic ideals is menaced by enemy forces of ruthless aggression which aim to dominate mankind b y terror and violence. The Canadian people have shown their determination to share with Britain and France t o the utmost of their strength in the defence of freedom.

My Ministers are of the opinion that the effective prosecution of the war makes it. imperative that those who are charged n-it11 the grave resl~onsibility of carrying on the government of Canada should, in tliis critiral lmiod, be

A.D. 1940 2 5 JANUARY ~ ~ 3

fortified by a direct and unquestioned mandate from the people. M y advisers, accordingly. having regard to existing conditions and the st'age of the life of the present Parliament, have decided upon an immediate appeal to the country.

Honozaable Members of the Senate:

Members of the Hoz~se of Comnzons:

I n all that pertains to the discharge of your responsible duties, may Divine Providence be your strength and guide.

The Conlmons withdrew.

His Excellency the Governor General was pleased to retire.

The Senate was resumed.

The Honourable Senator Dandurand PI-esented to the Senate a Bill intituled:

"An Act relating to Railways.!'

The said Bill was read the first time.

The Honourable the Speaker informed the Senate that a copy of the Speech of His Excellency the Governor General had been left in his hands.

The same was read by the Honourable the Speaker.

On mot,ion, it was-

Ordered, T h a t the Speech of His Excellency the Governor General be taken into consideration on Tuesday, next.

l'hc Honourable Senator Dai~durand laid on the Table:-

Copies of Orders in Council passcd under the authorit'y of the War Measures Act since the close of the Special Session, up t o and including 17th January, 1940.

The Honourable the Speaker presented to the Senate the Report of the Librarian, for the year 1939.

The same was then read by the Clerk, as follows:- LIBRARY O F PARLIAMENT

T o the Honoura.ble the Speaker of the Senate:

The General Librarian of Parliament has the honour t o submit the Report on the Library for 1939.

Work on the Supplementary Catalogue of books donated and purchased during 1939 has been rapidly proceeded with and the Catalogue will be issued in a very short time.

On July 31st last, Mr. Oswald SouliPre, French Cataloguer, who had been in the Library for twenty-eight years, was retired on superannuation. After competitive examinations, the Civil Service Commission appointed Mr. Lucien Lusignan to the vacant position. Mr. Lusignan is a Master of Commerce of the Montreal University and a graduate of the Library School of the same University.

H e had also previously been a Library Assistant since 1934.